The new prison in Antwerp is being built as part of the "Master Plan for Detention and Internment in Humane Conditions" and will replace the current prison in Antwerp on Begijnenstraat, which is outdated. The prison is being built through a DBFM procedure. 

Hootsmans architectural firm, ARCH & TECO, Bureau Bas Smets, and Ingenium are responsible for the design, Jan De Nul, EEG, and Envisan for the construction and remediation, and Jan De Nul, EEG, and Facilicom Facility Solutions for maintenance.

Humane detention

The ambition of the project is to make life in prison as similar as possible to the 'normality' of life in the outside world, in order to improve the chances of successful reintegration. To this end, a new prison typology has been developed that responds to the desire for humane detention.

The new prison will be completed by 2027 next to the Blue Gate Antwerp business park, close to the courthouse.

Sustainability and ecology

Just like Blue Gate Antwerp, this project has high ecological ambitions and the Buildings Agency has imposed a BREEAM score of at least 'very good'. The consortium is committed to achieving a BREEAM certificate of 'excellent'. The health and well-being of the prison's users also play a role in this, and a great deal of attention is therefore being paid to indoor air quality and thermal comfort. Maximum use will be made of natural daylight, for example through the orientation and shape of the buildings and the size of the window openings.

The ecological footprint is not only reduced by building functional and compact and providing lots of greenery. In terms of energy, too, we are pulling out all the stops to make it one of the most energy-efficient arresting houses in Belgium. For example, CO2 emissions will be limited by using the power plant and heat network of Blue Gate Antwerp, the adjacent eco-effective, water-bound business park, for heat production and supply.

Techniques

Ingenium performs these tasks in this project.

• site inspection
• design techniques
• dynamic simulations
• Breeam sub-studies
• process client requirements
• EPB and Breeam in design
• Commissioning in accordance with BREEAM MAN credits 4–5 (quality assurance process)
• Quality Inspector in accordance with the requirements of the Buildings Agency
• Commissioning: testing, acceptance, and technical monitoring of the progress of the technical installations
• Follow-up on nonconformities
• Overseeing and implementing a detailed test program
• seasonal commissioning